Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
    than a house full of feasting, with strife.

2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart.

4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
    whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
    they think success will come at every turn.

9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.

13 Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil for good.

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
    the Lord detests them both.

16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?

17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.

19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accept bribes in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.

Observation Questions

What is better than a house full of feasting with strife? (verse 1)

What does the Lord test in verse 3?

Who listens to deceitful lips? (verse 4)

Who shows contempt for the Maker of the poor? (verse 5)

Will those who gloat over disaster go unpunished? (verse 5)

Are eloquent lips suited to a godless fool? (verse 7)

What does one who would foster love do in verse 9?

What does someone do to separate close friends? (verse 9)
Who do evildoers foster rebellion against? (verse 11)

Will evil ever leave the house of one who pays back evil for good? (verse 13)

Is starting a quarrel like breaching a dam? (verse 14)

Does a friend love at all times? (verse 17)

Is there any joy for the parent of a godless fool? (verse 21)

Is a cheerful heart good medicine? (verse 22)

What does a discerning person keep in view? (verse 24)

Who brings grief to his father? (verse 25)

Who uses words with restraint? (verse 27)

Who is even-tempered? (verse 27)

Are fools thought wise if they keep silent? (verse 28)